Russia: Wheat profitability pushes Rostov region farmers to experiment, growth in niche crop sowing observed in the south

The profitability of wheat production in the Rostov Region has fallen to negative values due to government regulations (export duties). This was reported to Vedomosti Yug by Arkady Zlochevsky, President of the Russian Grain Union. According to him, farmers are already converting some of their land to niche crops. According to experts, grain purchase prices have remained at approximately the same level for many years, while expenses have doubled or more in the last year alone for some items. Farmers have begun to experiment. According to Zlochevsky, the profitability of wheat in the Rostov Region and a number of other regions has been falling for the third year in a row. As a result, the sowing area is increasingly being redistributed to niche crops (rapeseed, soybeans, peas, mustard) and oilseeds (primarily sunflower). "As a rule, the land that was under wheat is divided into pieces and sown with several crops," says Zlochevsky. He adds that there are no problems with the ...